School Resource Officer
Teen Drivers and the Vehicle & Traffic Law
New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law has hundreds of sections that oversee safe driving in New York State. Police Officers enforce all of these laws in order to provide safe highways for everyone. Teen drivers sometimes get pulled over for violations that they may or may not realize are illegal. Sections of the law that are sometimes violated by teens include:
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Speeding
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Excessive window tint / Loud music
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No seatbelt
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Illegally installed lights of various colors
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Cell phone use while driving
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D.W.I.
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Driving after 9pm with a DJ license
Drivers License Information
Graduated
License Program for New Drivers
Effective September 1, 2003
Law pertains to all permit holders, regardless of age.
Stage One – Learners Permit stage
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Supervising driver of permit holder must be 21 years old, regardless of the age of the permit holder
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No one other than the supervising driver can be in the front seat with the permit holder
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Permit holder may still schedule road test at time of receiving permit-but must be able to submit proof of at least 20 hours of driving experience at time of road test
Stage two – Limited Junior License stage (LDJ)
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Applies to 16 & 17 year olds that have passed road test when having permit for less than 6 months
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DJ license will be mailed at end of six month period from when permit was obtained.
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May not receive DJ (regular junior license), but will receive a limited junior driver’s license.
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Restrictions:
1. The driver may not operate unsupervised. There are some exceptions: unsupervised operation to/from school, work, dr.’s appt.
2. Every person in the vehicle must wear a seatbelt.
3. The supervising driver must be 21 years old or more.
4. With limited exceptions, there can be no more than two passengers under 21 years old in he vehicle unless they are immediate family members. (This is not applicable if the supervising driver is the parent).
5. During supervised driving, no one other than the driver may be in the front seat.
6. There are enhanced suspension periods for V & T violations.
NYS DMV Point System for Traffic Violations
Violation Points
Speeding (MPH over posted speed limit)
1 to 10
3
11 to 20
4
21 to 30
6
31 to 40
8
More than 40
11
Reckless Driving (misdemeanor) 5
Fail to stop for school bus 5
Follow too closely (tailgating) 4
Inadequate brakes 4
Fail to yield right of way 3
Running a red light or stop sign 3
Crossing railroad tracks while gates are down 3
Passing in a no passing zone 3
Unsafe lane change 3
Leaving property damage accident 3
Leaving accident involving cat or dog 3
No seat belt on passenger under 16 3
All other moving violations 2
If you accumulate more than 11 points in 18 months, your license may be suspended.
Student Drivers & Loud Music
New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law
prohibits loud music in, or coming from, vehicles. Section 375-47
reads as follows: It is unlawful for any person to operate or cause
to be operated an audio amplification system which is operated in,
installed in or powered by a vehicle which generates an A-weighted
sound level in excess of 70dB measure at or adjusted to a distance
of 25 feet from the vehicle.
70dB (decibels) is slightly louder than normal conversational
speech.
